On the Criminal Seat

Accused of a crime punishable by the death penalty, Angélique is interrogated on the criminal seat, a mandatory step in a criminal trial in which the offence is punishable by death.This procedure was meant to intimidate the accused by having her sit on a very low wooden bench while she was being interrogated.

Between the two interrogations on the criminal seat, Angélique was confronted with her mistress, widow De Francheville, whom she had not seen since the fire. In view of the widow's refusal to see her slave again, the prosecutor had had to compel her to appear before the court under threat of imprisonment.

The interrogations on the criminal seat took place in the presence of the judge and four counsellors selected by the Court. These counsellors were notaries practising in Montréal and to whom the details of the trial had been transmitted prior to this procedure.

Court Documents

• Juridiction royale de Montréal, First interrogation of Angélique in the criminal seat in the presence of counsellors Adhémar dit Saint-Martin, Gaudron de Chevremont, Guillet de Chaumont and Lepailleur de Laferté, May 27, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Confrontation of Marguerite de Couagne with Angélique, June 2, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Ordinance to compel Thérèse de Couagne to appear, June 4, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Report of delivery of a writ to Thérèse de Couagne, June 4, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Conclusions by the King's prosecutor, June 4, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Confrontation of Thérèse de Couagne with Angélique, June 4, 1734
• Juridiction royale de Montréal, Second interrogation of Angélique in the criminal seat and confrontation with Amable Lemoine Monière, in the presence of counsellors Adhémar dit Saint-Martin, Gaudron de Chevremont, Guillet de Chaumont and Lepailleur de Laferté, June 4, 1734